Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 and Mi Pad 2 unveiled, Mi5 remains a mystery

Xiaomi made the jump from plastic and glass to modern metal frames on Tuesday with a pair of new devices. The Chinese startup unveiled the Redmi Note 3 phablet and the Mi Pad 2 tablet (along with a second-generation air purifier) at an event in Beijing, though the long-rumored Mi5 is still a mystery.

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The most exciting of the bunch is the Redmi Note 3, a follow-up to the company’s extremely popular Redmi Note 2. The upgraded phablet packs a 5.5-inch 1080p display, a MediaTek’s HelioX10 chip, a 4000mAh battery, a 13-megapixel camera, 2GB of RAM and 16GB/32GB of storage. It also sports a fingerprint reader in back, which Xiaomi says will unlock the device in just 0.3 seconds, and a sleek metal design with curved edges.

The Redmi Note 3 starts at just 899 yuan (roughly $140) or 1099 yuan ($170) for the extra storage space. It will be available in silver, gold or dark gray, and launches in China on Nov. 27 through the company’s website.

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As for the Mi Pad 2, Xiaomi’s come a long way from its original chunky plastic tablet. The new model is only 6.95mm thick (compared to its 8.5mm predecessor), and weighs just 322 grams despite its all-metal frame. It also packs a 7.9-inch display with a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels, a quad-core Intel Atom processor, a 6190mAh battery, an 8-megapixel rear camera, a 5-megapixel front-facing shooter, a USB-C charging port and 2GB of RAM.

Xiaomi’s new tablet costs 999 yuan ($156) for a 16GB model, or 1,299 yuan ($203) for 64GB of space. It comes in gold or dark gray and launches on Nov. 27.

Finally, the company unveiled its Mi Air Purifier 2, which boasts a smaller and lighter design. It’s also 11 percent quieter and 55 percent more power efficient than the original. You can order one for 699 yuan ($109), with replacement filters running 149 yuan ($23) each.

As for the long-rumored Mi5, it looks like we’ll have to wait until at least early next year for a look at Xiaomi’s next flagship phone. For now, though, the Redmi Note 3 should do just fine.

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Jacob Kleinman has been working as a journalist online and in print since he arrived at Wesleyan University in 2007. After graduating, he took a...Jacob Kleinman has been working as a journalist online and in print since he arrived at Wesleyan University in 2007. After graduating, he took a...